Key ejecting means



July 2. 1968 o. MESSERA KEY EJECTING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 22, 1966 5K L g- 52 INVENTOR Dominick Messero FIG.6.

ATTORNEY July 2. 1968 o. MESSERA KEY EJECTING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug; 22, 1966 FIGJO FIG.II.

INVENTOR Dominick Messera WM 2/ ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,390,560 KEY EJECTING MEANS Dominick Messera, 28 Spring St., Oyster Bay, N.Y. 11771 Filed Aug. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 574,096 7 Claims. (Cl. 70388) The present invention relates generally to locking devices and more particularly to a key-ejecting lock which utilizes means for ejecting the key from the look when the key is in the non-operative position.

Whereas motorists often inadvertently leave the key in the ignition switch of automobiles, the unauthorized use or thefts of automobiles resulting therefrom has long been a problem of great concern. Similar problems also exist with respect to various other types of locks such as door locks, cabinet locks and the like.

Heretofore, there have been attempts to provide a mechanism for forcing the key out of the lock when the key is in the neutral or inoperative position. These previous devices generally fall into two categories involving first, a spring mechanism disposed between the face of the lock and the handle position of the key and second, whereby a Spring mechanism is provided to engage one end of the key whereby the spring is disposed in either axial or coaxial alignment with the key. The essential objection to these devices and thus the reason that they are not currently being used extensively, is the pressure on the key exerted continually which causes excessive wear of the key and of the mechanism of the lock associated with the key thus causing a relatively short life for both the key and lock mechanism. Other systems are known wherein the pressure of a spring mechanism must first be overcome in order to insert the key into the barrel of the lock. Such systems similarly create undue attrition against both the key and lock barrel and are therefore objectionable.

Accordingly, the primary desideratum of the present invention resides in the provision of key-ejecting means whereby the existence of pressure against either key or lock barrel during the insertion of the key thereinto or during the retention of the key therein, has been obviated.

Therefore, in consonance with the foregoing, the instant invention has for an object the provision of key-ejecting means, the latter becoming operative only when the key is turned to the inoperative position whereby at such time the key is ejected from the lock barrel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the foregoing character which includes solenoid means for urging a plunger against an end of the key, said solenoid being energized only when the key is turned to the inoperative position and deenergized upon accomplishment of the key-ejecting operation.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of key-ejectin g means including resilient means engaging the key-ejecting plunger to normally urge the latter out of engagement with respect to the key when the latter is turned to the inoperative position.

Another general object of the present invention is to provide a device of the described character which will be simple in structure, economical of manufacture, ideally suitable to utilization and incorporation with conventional automobile ignition lock mechanisms, easily and quickly installed and highly effective in use.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with "ice an embodiment of the present device illustrating the solenoid means and centrally disposed tubular holder, the latter being broken away to show the key-ejecting plunger slidable therein;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the invention illustrating the key-receiving opening thereof;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the other end of the device illustrating the pivotable arm and cam means adapted to actuate the second switch means described hereinbelow;

FIGURE 4 is a view taken along line 44 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a view taken along line 5--5 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of the present device illustrating the key inserted into the barrel of the lock, said key being in the unlocked or second position as referred to hereinbelow;

FIGURE 7 is a view taken along line 7-7 of FIG- URE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a view taken along line 88 of FIG- URE 6;

FIGURE 9 is a crosss-sectional view of the invention illustrating the barrel turned to the locked or first position as referred to hereinbelow and consequent ejection of the key from the barrel;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 1010 of FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 11 is a wiring diagram representative of the electrical components and their cooperative relationship as utilized in the present device.

It will be appreciated that the description and application of the present invention as given below will relate to automobile ignition switch lock systems, although the utilization thereof elsewhere is entirely within the contemplation hereof.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, numeral 2 generally designates a conventional lock including a cylinder 4 and a key-actuated barrel 6 which is rotatable in the cylinder from a locked first position indicated at 8 in FIGURE 10 to an unlocked second position indicated at 10 in the same figure. The lock 2 is of the type commonly used in ignition systems of automobiles and similar vehicles, being of the type wherein the key indicated by the phantom lines 12 in FIGURES 6 and 9 may he slid in and out of the barrel when the barrel is in the first position, but wherein the key cannot be withdrawn from the barrel when the latter is in the second or unlocked position such as, while driving.

The barrel 6 is provided with a plurality of tumblers 14 which are slotted as at 16 to receive the key 12 and which are pressesd by suitable springs 18 into a longitudinal channel 20 extending in the cylinder 4. That is, when the barrel 6 is rotated to its first position 8, the tumblers 14 project into the channel 20 and the barrel cannot be rotated to its second position until key 12 is inserted into the barrel so as to retract the tumblers and facilitate subsequent rotation of the barrel to its second position 10. While the barrel is in the latter position, the tumblers 14 cannot be projected outwardly therefrom since there is no channel in the cylinder 4 to receive them, and consequently, the key 12 cannot be withdrawn until the device is again locked.

The structure comprising the key-injecting means as shown in the preferred embodiment hereof essentially includes a main housing 24 of cylindrical configuration, an intermediate housing 26 of similar configuration, the latter being integrally related with said cylinder 4, a tubular holder 28 secured to and rotatable with said barrel 6, an ejecting plunger 30 slidable longitudinally in said holder and projectable into said barrel, magnetic responsive means 32 such as iron secured annularly of said plunger and adapted to slide in unison therewith internally of said tubular holder, resilient means 34 shown as a compression spring engaging said plunger by acting against said magnetic responsive material 32 to normally urge end 36 of said plunger out of said barrel, and solenoid member or bias means 38 'annularly disposed with respect to said tubular member and capable, when energized, to motivate end 36 of said plunger into said 'barrel to cause ejection of key 12 from the barrel when the latter is turned from the second postition shown in FIGURE 6 to the first position shown in FIGURE 9.

Energization and de-energization of solenoid member 38 is regulated or controlled by the relative opened or closed positions of first and second switch means 40 to 42, respectively. More particularly, it will be understood that said solenoid member will receive current from power supply 44 (see FIGURE 11) only when both said switch means 40 and 42 are in the closed position. Further, closure of the circuit shown in FIGURE 11 will prevail only momentarily when barrel 6 is first rotated from the second position shown in FIGURE 6 to the first position shown in FIGURE 9. Such momentary energization ceases once stop means 46 engages pivotable arm 48 to thereby break contact between contact points 50 and 52.

It will be further observed that said first switch means 40 comprises pairs of contact points 54, 56 and 58, 60. Rotary switch arm member 62, which carries contact points 56 and 60 is attached to conductor ring 64, the latter being integral with barrel 6 and therefore adapted to rotate when said barrel is rotated. Thus, when barrel 6 is turned to the first position illustrated in FIGURES 1-5 and 9, contact points 54, 56 and 58, 60 are closed firm contact being assured by dint of compression spring 66 which biases said member 62 against points 53 and 58. Cam 68, as shown in said figures is vertically oriented when said barrel 6 is disposed in the first position, whereby upper portion 7 of said cam is in alignment with catch means 72 as particularly apparent in FIGURE of the drawings. It will be appreciated that cam 68 is fixedly connected to tubular member 28 and therefore adapted to rotate therewith, said tubular member being connected to conductor ring 64 and thus rotatable therewith when barrel 6 is rotated.

Aforesaid pivotable arm 48, pivoted at 72', extends vertically and upwardly of contact point 50, whereby closure or not of switch means 42 depends upon the position of said pivotable arm 48. Tension spring 74 acts to normally hold switch means 42 in closed position as shown in FIGURE 6, such position being permitted only when barrel 6 is in its second or unlocked position whereby upper portion 70 of cam 68 is rotated out of alignment with respect to catch means 72 as shown in FIGURES 6 and 8.

Thus, when cam 68 is disposed vertically as seen in FIGURE 5, movement of pivotable arm 48 towards said cam will cause catch means 72, which is pivotally attached to the upper end 76 of arm 48, to become removably secured to said cam, compression spring 78 being arranged to coact with said catch means to subsequently bias the latter into securement with said cam.

Rear end 80 of plunger 30 is slidable through opening 82 provided through said pivotable arm 48, aforesaid stop means 46 being arranged to engage said pivotable arm 48 to move the latter toward cam 68 upon energization of solenoid 38, whereupon switch means 42 will be opened as shown in FIGURE 9 and at which time forward end 36 of plunger 30 will eject key 12 from barrel 6. Set screw 84 permits adjustment of the location of stop means 46 with respect to end 80 of the plunger thereby permitting regulation of the degree of movement of said plunger within said tubular member when said solenoid is energized.

In operation, key 12 is inserted into barrel 6 and rotated to the second or unlocked position whereupon the automobile ignition circuit (not shown) is closed. As this procedure is accomplished, cam 68 is rotated to the position shown in FIGURES 6 and 8 whereby catch means 72 is released and spring 74 urges switch means 42 into contacting closed position. At this time the automatic engine is presumably running. There is no bias against key 12 since switch means 40 is opened and solenoid 38 is therefore deenergized.

When, however, key 12 is turned to the first or locked position in order to stop the engine, switch means 40 is closed and inasmuch as switch means 42 is already closed, solenoid 38 is energized, plunger 30 is biased, by the magnetic flux created, into barrel 6, and key 12 which is now withdrawable with respect to tumblers 14, is ejected by end 36 of the plunger. Stop means 46 simultaneously engages pivotable arm 48 moving the latter to the position shown, e.g., in FIGURE 9 thereby breaking contact between points 50 and 52. Cam 68 and catch means 72 are at this time in alignment as shown and, as heretofore described, switch means 42 is held open thereby maintaining the solenoid in the deenergized state.

Replacement of the key into the barrel and turning the latter to the second position will reset all components to the condition shown in FIGURE 6, energization of said solenoid being thereagain accomplished only when the barrel is again rotated to the first position.

It has been determined that the inclusion of delay circuit closing means such as heat-responsive switching element 86 provided in series with first and second switching means 40 and 42 as shown in FIGURE 11 of the drawings, provides the user an increment of time sutficient to permit removal of his hand from the key after turning the latter to the first position, prior to energization of the solenoid being effectuated. Such delayed energization of the solenoid permits the plunger 30 to commence its movement toward the key after the hand leaves the key, to thereby provide plunger momentum otherwise absent were the plunger already in abutting position with respect to the key at the time the hand is removed therefrom. It is this plunger momentum which accounts for more positive ejection of the key. The switching element 86 is of conventional construction and may .be the simple direc tional signal flasher used on automobiles. That is, e.g., the switch opens and closes the circuit in response to the cyclical heating and cooling of a bimetallic element 88 which controls the disposition of the switch. An electrical resistance member 90 becomes heated upon passage of current therethrough and in turn heats the bimetallic member to cause the latter to flex into switch-closing position. Once the bimetallic member so flexes it moves away from the resistance member and after a short time cools to thereby return to its normal switch-open position, whereafter it is again heated to repeat the cycle.

It will be appreciated that ejection of the key will be accomplished with or without use of the aforedescribed delay circuit-closing [means 86, utilization thereof, however, being preferable.

Although the preferred embodiment of the key-ejecting means has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the forms, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a lock including a cylinder and a key-actuated barrel rotatable in said cylinder from a first position wherein a key may be slid inwardly and outwardly therein to a second position wherein sliding of the key is prevented; structure comprising a tubular holder secured to and rotatable with said barrel, an ejecting plunger slidable in said holder and projectable into said barrel, resilient [means engaging said plunger to normally urge the latter out of said barrel, bias means capable of overcoming the urging of said resilient means, and means attached to said tubublar holder acting to prevent actuation of said bias means until such time as said barrel has been rotated from said first position to said second position and then back to said first position, thereby actuating said plunger into said barrel when the latter is returned to the first position whereby said plunger will automatically eject a key from the barrel when the key is returned to the first position.

2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bias means com-prises a solenoid member annularly disposed with respect to said tubular holder, first and second switch means connected in series with windings of said solenoid, said first switch means in said second switch means being movable from opened to closed position upon rotation of said barrel from the first to the second position, respectively, by said means attached to said tubular holder, said solenoid being energized when said first and second switch means are concurrently closed.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 2 including magnetic responsive means secured ann-ularly of said plunger and slidable therewith internally of said tubular holder.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 3 including an electrical power supply connected in series with said first and second switch means, said second switch means including a pair of contact points, a pivotable arm extending integrally (from one of said contact points, catch means pivotably attached to said pivotable arm, and cam means fixedly connected to said tubular holder for rotation therewith, said plunger, upon rotation of said barrel to said first position and consequent energization of said solenoid, being moved into engagement with said pivotable arm to pivot the latter toward said cam means to cause movement of said catch means into removable securement with said cam means, opening of said contact points and deenergization of said solenoid.

5. The structure as set forth in claim 4 including delay circuit closing means connected in series with said first and second switch means.

6. The structure as set forth in claim 4 including spring means coactingly arranged with said catch means Whereby the latter is biased against said cam means when said catch means is removably secured to said cam means.

7. The structure according to claim 6 wherein said pivotable arm is provided with an opening therethrough, said plunger being slidably mounted through said opening and including adjustable stop means for regulating the degree of movement of said plunger within said tubular member when said solenoid is energized.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,568,206 9/1951 Seaman et al. -388 2,774,855 12/1956 Simmons 70-388 XR 3,217,114 11/1965 Proctor 70-388 X 3,320,782 5/1967 Turman 70-388 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A LOCK INCLUDING A CYLINDER AND A KEY-ACTUATED BARREL ROTATABLE IN SAID CYLINDER FROM A FIRST POSITION WHEREIN A KEY MAY BE SLID INWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY THEREIN TO SECOND POSITION WHEREIN SLIDING OF THE KEY IS PREVENTED; STRUCTURE COMPRISING A TUBULAR HOLDER SECURED TO AND ROTATABLE WITH SAID BARREL, AND EJECTING PLUNGER SLIDABLE IN SAID HOLDER AND PROJECTABLE INTO SAID BARREL, RESILIENT MEANS ENGAGING SAID PLUNGER TO NORMALLY URGE THE LATTER OUT OF SAID BARREL, BIAS MEANS CAPABLE OF OVERCOMING THE URGING OF SAID RESILIENT MEANS, CAPABLE OF ATTCHED TO SAID TUBULAR HOLDER ACTING TO PREVENT ACTUATION OF SAID BIAS MEANS UNTIL SUCH TIME AS SAID BARREL HAS BEEN ROTATED FROM SAID FIRST POSITION TO SAID SECOND POSITION AND THEN BACK TO SAID FIRST POSITION, THEREBY ACTUATING SAID PLUNGER INTO SAID BARREL WHEN THE LATTER IS RETURNED TO THE FIRST POSITION WHEREBY SAID PLUNGER WILL AUTOMATICALLY EJECT A KEY FROM THE BARREL WHEN THE KEY IS RETURNED TO THE FIRST POSITION. 